The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 3 eBook

fear can never inspire fear in persons of Knowledge.
There is no higher end for anybody (than Emancipation).
In consequence, however, of the excess or otherwise
of good qualities, the sages say that differences
are observable in respect of the degree of Emancipation.
A person by acting without expectation of fruits succeeds
(by those acts) in annihilating his sinful acts of
a former period. To one possessed of wisdom,
the acts of a former period (thus washed off) and
those of this life also (which are accomplished without
expectation of fruit), do not become productive of
any disagreeable consequence (such as immurement in
hell). But how can acts, if he continues to be
engaged in accomplishing acts, bring about what is
agreeable (viz., Emancipation)?[615] People censure
a person that is afflicted (with lust, envy, and other
evil passions). Those vices hurl the person in
his next life into diverse kinds of inferior orders.[616]
Mark with close attention the vicious in this world
who grieve exceedingly for the loss of their possessions
(such as sons and wives, etc.). Behold also
those that are gifted with judgment and who never
grieve when thrown into similar circumstances.
Those that are conversant with both (i.e., with gradual
Emancipation and immediate Emancipation), deserve to
be called truly wise.’"[617]

SECTION CXCV

“Bhishma said, ’I shall now, O son of
Pritha, discourse to thee upon the four kinds of yoga
meditation. The great Rishis, obtaining a knowledge
of the same, attain to eternal success even here.
Great Rishis gratified with knowledge, with hearts
set upon Emancipation, and conversant with yoga, act
in such a way that their yoga meditation may get on
properly. These, O son of Pritha, being freed
from the faults of the world, never come back (for
rebirth). Liberated from liability to rebirth,
they live in their original Soul-state.[618] Freed
from the influence of all pairs of opposites (such
as heat and cold, joy and sorrow, etc.), ever
existing in their own (original) state, liberated
(from attachments), never accepting anything (in gift),
they live in places free from the companionship of
wives and children, without others with whom disputes
may arise, and favourable to perfect tranquillity of
heart. There such a person, restraining speech,
sits like a piece of wood, crushing all the senses,
and with mind undividedly united by the aid of meditation
(with the Supreme Soul). He has no perception
of sound through the ear; no perception of touch through
the skin; no perception of form through the eye; no
perception of taste through the tongue. He has
no perception also of scents through the organ of
smell. Immersed in yoga, he would abandon all
things, rapt in meditation. Possessed of great
energy of mind, he has no desire for anything that
excites the five senses. The wise man, withdrawing
his five senses into the mind, should then fix the